desc

Desc is a commonly used three-letter abbreviation that appears across multiple technical domains. It most often stands for description or descriptor, but its exact meaning depends on context. In data modeling, documentation, and API design, desc is frequently used as a field name or key to hold descriptive text about an item, such as a product, document, or record.

In programming and data schemas, desc serves as a concise label for a description field. It is not typically a reserved keyword, but its semantics are defined by the surrounding data model, code, or documentation where it appears. The usage is primarily pragmatic, aiming for brevity in names and labels.

In SQL and database tooling, DESC has specific, standardized meanings. It is the keyword used in ORDER BY to request descending sort order, as in a query like: SELECT * FROM products ORDER BY price DESC. In many databases and interfaces, DESC also functions as a shorthand for DESCRIBE (or DESCRIBE-related commands) when inspecting a table’s structure. MySQL accepts DESCRIBE or DESC to show column definitions, and Oracle’s SQL*Plus environment provides a DESC command to describe a table. The exact behavior can vary by vendor and tool.

Overall, desc is a flexible shorthand deployed in documentation, data schemas, and query syntax. See also: description, describe, ascending, descending, ORDER BY, DESCRIBE.